Irish moss is a sea weed found in the Atlantic ocean. It has long been used as an aphrodisiac in the Caribbean. In Jamaica, the Irish Moss drink industry is controlled by Rastas. No scientific research has been conducted on the possible aphrodisiac properties, although something is known of the unusual chemicals in this herb.

Anecdotal Reports

In the book Everything Gonna Be Alright, the musician/Rastafarian leader Bob Marley is noted to have help popularize the Irish Moss drink in Jamaica. At one point, he told a female journalist it would 'make your pom-pom wet.' Bob usually drank his Irish Moss beverage with ginger and cinnamon, two spices also known to have aphrodisiac properties. Positive Irations!

Ryan Drum, an herbalist and seaweed enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest, reports his experience with Irish Moss in Belize and Jamaica. He notes that the beverage is somewhat more pricey than other products sold in beverage stands, and that the producers are secretive about how they make their product. Ryan reported no change in libido or sexual function after drinking Irish Moss in Jamaica.

Nutritional Content of Irish Moss

Irish Moss (Chondrus spp. for you biologists) is rich in carageenan and other substances that thicken a liquid. It has long been a commercial source for purified carageenan used in toothpaste, ice cream, and other products.

Carageenan is often thought of as inert, but it can affect the immune system and metabolism in various ways. As a water soluble fiber, it soothes the intestines and can adsorb toxins. The Carageenan used in food and cosmetics is highly washed and purified, making it a different product than the raw herb.

Western herbalists have traditionally used Irish Moss for the mucous membranes and lung conditions. Polysaccharides like those found in this herb have gotten increasing attention as immunomodulators that can improve resistance to infectious disease and cancer. Although not ready to replace tetracycline or chemotherapy, these dietary ingredients may have a role in preventing those diseases in the first place.

Like other ocean herbs (or sea-food in general), Irish Moss is rich source of some minerals that may be lacking in a land based diet. Iodine, sulfur, and selenium are three elements that are particularly abundant in this plant. A small dose of iodine can stimulate the metabolism and increase well-being in person with low iodine levels, although it would have no effect in a person that did not have an iodine deficiency. Those with thyroid problems are advised to seek medical advice before eating any iodine rich foods ... while iodine can improve some types of goiter, it can also negatively impact other thyroid conditions.

Seaweeds are also rich in unusual sugars. While land plants contain common sugars like sucrose, glucose, and fructose, ocean vegetables are often loaded with sugars like fucose. The research is incomplete and somewhat controversial, but these less common sugars are essential, and some scientists believe that many people would benefit from adding them to their diet.

Many plants (including Chondrus) contain chemicals called sterols. These can have an effect on Cholesterol and steroid metabolism, and cholesterol is the ultimate source of testosterone, estrogen, and other sex hormones. The research on sterols in Irish Moss is rather limited; one article from 1966 looked into the issue.

Irish Moss has been shown to contain oxylipins that affect chemicals called eicosanoids and prostaglandins. It has been shown that errections in men involve prostaglandins, and some medicine for treating erectile dysfunction are known to alter prostaglandins. At this point, however, it is a stretch to say that Irish Moss improves erections by affecting this metabolic pathway - possible, but unproven. (PMID:15247395

Aphrodisiology's Bottom Line on Irish Moss

Caribbean traditional beliefs on Irish Moss make it a potential aphrodisiac of interest. Science has not really addressed this question directly. It may help some individuals, but probably lacks the immediate punch of a booster like